Mechanical box opener



Feb. 9, 1954 J. K. c. FAT

MECHANICAL BOX OPENER Filed July 17. 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet l Illullw'y-/f p I R. W., l am. Hama ,m .h .4 @a m W I j//o Patented Feb. 9, 1954 ATENT oFFlC Josen'h'Y K: Cz: Fat; Honolulu; 'I'liritoy di waii,

assigner of: one-haff to Edwin Starr; San Francisc, Calif.

irti iii; 1951, seria1No.237,197 6in1-nrs. (C1. 14a-211) finotnei; object of' tnenfese'ng lnveiniorfis" tof prcivloe whereby' felativenaovment of the jaw' elemente can bee'ffeoied by pivoting move' mener of lia'riclie,l effecting rotation of a pinion' in e: in if dir'eeinon, ifeejtnibeingf pro-Vigie@ on least one of tnejavi elernemfe fen ration with ine-'pinion wi'iee enit of tlfnanei'eeiieotsr eleL mentf relative o the canneI Siidabiy supporting* plated applying my"y invention'isfele'arly llntraied in-oh accori'lparlyiiigv drawings; Wheiein' Figure 11 is a' perspective" View of the entire mechanical opener shown applied to Va boa-Willen ibeig opened-'' Figur-ei 2 isa'- to# pfla'nf View of the mechanical cylindrical shaft 82 which is best disclosed in Figures 3 and 6. The semi-cylindrical shaft 82 has a bearing portion 84 and la reduced diameter spring carrying extension 88. The semi-cylindrical shaft 82 is rotatably carried by the leg portions '|8 and 80 of the bifurcated portion 14 of the handle 10, the bearing portion 84 being disposed in the leg 80 while the spring carrying extension 86 rotatably extends through an opening in the leg 18. A torsion spring 88 is engaged over the extension 86 and has one end 90 engaged through the aperture 92 in the extension 85. Opposing end 94 of the torsion spring 88 is engaged in an aperture 96 in the leg 18. The main section of the semi-circular shaft 82 is adapted to engage the teeth of the pinion 'I8 as will be readily seen in Figure 3.

The jaw means I8 includes a first jaw velement 98 and a second jaw element |00. The first jaw element 08 is of substantially rectangular cross section and is slidably disposed within the casing I6. The jaw element 98 has a laterally extending jaw |ll2rntegrally formed therewith, the upper portion of the jaw element 98 being of reduced cross sectional area at |06. The inner face |05 of the jaw element 98 is formed with racl; teeth The second jaw element |00 is of substantially U-shaped form and is also slidably received within the casing I6, a second jaw i0 being integrally formed therewith and extending laterally therefrom for coaction with the first jaw |02. A second jaW element |00 slidably receives the reduced cross sectional portion |01# of the first jaw element 98 and has its inner face ||2 formed with rack teeth at H4. The casing l@ has a pinion IIB rotatablycarried thereby and engaging the rack teeth |08 and H4 ofthe two jaw elements whereby movement of one of the jaw elements will eect relatively opposite movement of the other jaw element. Y Looking now at Figures l, 7 and 8, it will be seen that the bracket 54 is formed with an elongated slot ||8 exposing a portion of the second jaw element |00 to which a stop screw #2% is adjustably secured in a preselected one of the threaded bores |22 or |24. The head of the stop screw is engageable within the slot H8 for limited movement relative to the casing.

The jaw ||0 is formed with a tapered outer end l|25 bifurcated at |28 and hasa recess formed therein. The jaw ||2 is similar to the jaw H0, having a tapered portion and bifurcated portion |32. The jaw ||2 is also formed with a cutter insert |34 which is engageable in the recess of the jaw I l0, whereby the jaws can be employed for effecting a cutting operation when desired.

In view of the foregoing description of the structure of mechanical opener of the present invention, it is believed that one skilled in the art will readily understand the manner in which the device can be employed for opening boxes, crates and the like.

When it is desired to open a box or crate such as |2, the tapered ends of the jaws |02 and H8 are engaged between the main portion of the box I2 and the cover I4. The handle 'l0 is pivoted in a pumping fashion. The semi-shaft 82 will engage the pinion 16 for effecting rotation thereof upon downward pivoting movement of the handle 18, upward movement of the handle 'i0 merely being accompanied by the riding of the semi-circular shaft 82 over the teeth of the pinion 16. The pawls 44 and 46 will prevent the pinion 'I6 from rotating in a reverse direction. Inasmuch as the pinion 16 is engaged with the rack teeth H formed on the second jaw element |00, the second jaw element |00 will be upwardly moved to the dotted line position 10|. The pinion H6 will effect relatively opposite movement of the first jaw element 98 to the dotted line position 99. It will thus be seen that the cover |4 will be separated from the main portion of the box.

When it is desired to release the jaws for movement toward each other, the pawls @i4 and 46 are pressed in opposition to the springs In View of the foregoing, it is believed that a device has been provided which Will accomplish all of the objects hereinabove set forth. Obviously, other operating means such as electrical, hydraulic or pneumatic means could be employed for operating the opener if desired.

, Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

l. A mechanical opener comprising a casing having a rst jaw element laterally extending therefrom and in slidable relation thereto, a second jaw element slidably carried by said casing for movement relative to said rst jaw element, actuating means for effecting relative movement between said jaw elements, and stop means for selectively maintaining said jaws from movement toward each other, said actuating means including a handle vhaving ka substantially U-shaped portion pivotally carried by said casing, a pinion rotatably carried by said casing and between the legs of said handle, ratchet means selectively interconnecting said handle with said pinion whereby pivoting movement of said handle in one direction eifects rotation of said pinion in a first direction, one of said jaw elements having rack teeth formed thereon and engaged with said pinion whereby pivoting movement of said handle can effect relative movement between said jaw elements, the juxtaposed and opposing face portions of said jaw elements having rack teeth formed thereon, a second pinion rotatably supported by said casing and between said juxtaposed face portions and engaging said rack teeth, movement of said second jaw element effecting relatively opposite movement of said rst jaw element.

2. A mechanical opener comprising a casing having a first jaw element laterally extending therefrom and in slidable relation thereto, a second jaw element slidably carried by said casing for movement relative to said first jaw element, actuating means for effecting relative movement between said jaw elements, and stop means for selectively maintaining said jaws from movement toward each other, said actuating means including a handle having a substantially U-shaped portion pivotally carried by said casing, a pinion rotatably carried by said casing and between the legs of said handle, ratchet means selectively interconnecting said handle with said pinion whereby pivoting movement of said handle in one direction effects rotation of said pinion in a iirst direction, one of said'jaw elements having rack teeth formed thereon and engaged with said pinion whereby pivoting movement of said handle can eifect relative movement between said jaw elements, the juxtaposed and opposing face portions of said jaw elements having rack teeth formed thereon, a second pinion rotatably supported by said casing and between said juxtaposed face portions and engaging said rack teeth, movement of said second jaw element effecting relatively opposite movement of said ilrst jaw element, said stop means including a pawl pivotally carried by said casing and engageable with said pinion for preventing rotation in a second direction, and a spring urging said pawl into engagement with said pinion.

3. A mechanical opener having rst and second jaw elements slidably disposed therein, portions of said jaw elements being parallel to and spaced from one another and having facing rack teeth thereon, a pinion rotatably carried by said casing interengaging said rack teeth for slidably moving said jaw elements with respect to one another, actuating means for said jaw elements, said actuating means comprising a handle having a U-shaped end pivotally secured to said casing, a second pinion rotatably carried by said casing exteriorly thereof and being disposed within said U-shaped handle end, one of said jaw elements having a :second set of rack teeth thereon engaged with said lsecond pinion, and ratchet means on said handle for moving said second pinion in one direction thereby oppositely sliding said jaw elements within said casing, said jaW elements including laterally extending jaws projecting exteriorly of said casing in alignment with one another and movable toward and away from one another in response to movement of the handle.

4. A mechanical opener having rst and second jaw elements slidably disposed therein, portions of said jaw elements being parallel to and spaced from one another and having facing rack teeth thereon, a pinion rotatably carried by said casing interengaging said rack teeth for slid- J)l ably moving said jaw elements with respect to one another, actuating means for said jaw elements, said actuating means comprising a handle having a U-shaped end pivotally secured to said casing, a second pinion rotatably carried by said casing exteriorly thereof and being disposed Within said @shaped handle end, one of said jaw elements having a second set o rack teeth thereon engaged with said second pinion, and ratchet means on said handle for moving said second pinion in one direction thereby oppositely sliding said jaw elements within said casing, said jaw elements including laterally extending jaws projecting exteriorly of said casing in alignment with one another and movable toward and away from one another in response to movement of the handle, said first jaw element being of inverted U-shaped coniieuration, one of the legs of said U-shaped jaw element having the second set of rack teeth thereon, and the other leg terminating in one ci the laterally extending jaws, said seccond jaw element being disposed between the legs of said first jaw element.

5. The combination of claim 4, said second jaw element comprising an elongated bar having an upper portion of reduced cross-section providing a shoulder between the upper and loWer portions thereof, the other of said laterally extending jaws projecting from said second jaw elcment adjacent said shoulder and underlying said one jaw, said other leg of said rst jaw element being reciprocally slidable on said upper portion of said second jaw element.

JOSEPH K. C. FAT.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 185,223 Fisher et al. Dec. 12, 1876 462,796 Green Nov. 10, 1891 1,420,556 Klasing June 20, 1922 

